Coin box for telephones



I April 1935. w. T, ANDERSON- 1,998,602

COIN BOX FOR TELEPHONES Filed Feb. 15, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Open dean For n urn 01" coin when rwIL-LfieL fiilL/indemswn Ap 1935. w. T. ANDERSON 1,998,602

COIN BOX FOR TELEPHONES am n @14 a.

'April 23, 1935. w, p so 1,998,602

COIN BOX FOR TELEPHONES Filed Feb. 15, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 23, 1935 UNITED. STATES PATENT orrlcs 4 Claims.

This invention relates to coin boxesforuse with pay telephones.

The devices heretofore used have had certain objectionable features which the present invention serves to overcome. For example, where two or more coin chutes are provided it sometimes happens that more than one coin are deposited simultaneously, thereby causing a confusion of signals which prevents the operator from determining the exact amount placed in the box. 'An object of the present invention is to provide a means whereby coins can be placed in the chute only one at a time. 1

When telephone apparatus is out of service it frequently happens that coins are deposited by customers unaware of the condition. This causes annoyance both to the company and to the customer. An object of the improvements herewith presented is to prevent insertion of a coin while the apparatus is inoperative.

Money received by telephones of the pay type is credited to the subscriber who is dependent upon the records of the agents of the company for an accurate adjustment. This is complicated by the fact that some coins deposited by users are returned, as when'the called party cannot be reached. One of the objects of this invention is to provide a means whereby all deposited coins will be countedwhen inserted into the apparatus while additional counting means are provided for those coins which are returned, these in every instance, being from among those initially deposited to. get the operator and therefore being of equal value.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed it being understood that changes in the precise.

embodiment of the invention herein claimed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings: I I

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus constituting the present invention, a portion being broken away.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-'-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3is a section on line 33, Figure 1, the lower portion being in elevation.

Figure 4 is a. section on line 4-4, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5, Figure 3. x

Figure 6 is an' enlarged section online 65, Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a section on line 'I I, Figure 3. Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8 Figure 1. Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9, Figure 3. Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the electrical circuits which can be used with the apparatus.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference I designates a telephone of the usual coin box type which, as usual in devices of this kind, has a transmitter 2 above which is arranged a series of openings 3, 4 and 5 for the reception of coins of different denominations. Backof these openings are coin chutes 6 opening downwardly into the upper communicating ends of downwardly diverging delivery chutes 1 and 8. The delivery chute I is adapted to discharge coins into a receptacle 9 for retention by the company while the chute 8 constitutes a return chute for delivering into a trough In or the like, those coins which are to be returned to the customer. A deflecting plate II is mounted within the upper or communicating ends of the chutes I and 8 sothat all coins deposited in the chute communicating with opening 3 will be deposited thereon. This plate is'mounted to tilt about a central axis I2 and has a depending arm I3 connected to an armaturev I4 extending into opposed solenoids I5 and I6. Thus'when solenoid I5 is energized the plate IIv will be tilted to direct the deposited coin into chute 8 whereas should armature I6 be energized the plate would be tilted to deposit the coin in chute l. A spring H can be connected to the pivotal portion of the plate II so that said plate will be held normally horizontal, as shown in Figure 3. It is to be understood that this plate only acts upon those coins inserted through the opening 3 and, consequently, the chute 8 need only be of sufficient width to receive those coins. Projecting into each of the chutes 6 below the opening 3, 4 or 5 communicating therewith, is one arm I8 of a lever I9, the other end of which is connected by a rod 20 to the crank arm 2I of a counter 22. This'counter can be located at'any convenient point so that it can be read readily Obviously every time a coin is thrust downwardly past one of the arms I8, the counter connected thereto will be actuated to register one coin of the particular denomination operating the lever. A hell or other signal device indicated at 23 can be sounded every time the rod 20 is actuated.

; For example, a clapper 24 can be carriedfby rod 2 3 for striking the bell during the return movement of said rod.

For the purpose of preventing the insertion of coins so that they will rest within the openings 3, 4 and 5 at the same time, a baffle mechanism is utilized. In the structure illustrated this bafile mechanism includes spring pressed plungers 25, 23 and which are normally pressed forward by spring 28 so that their front ends project into the respective openings 3, 4 and .5 at the centers thereof. With the plungers thus locked the coins can not be inserted into any one or" the openings without pressing backwardly the plunger locked in that opening.

The present invention includes a means where-' by, when one plunger 25, 26 or 27 is thrust rearwardly by an inserted coin, the remaining plungers will be looked against rearward movement so that other coins can not be inserted until the coin first inserted been delivered downwardly into the apparatus. This operation is effected by means of the particular mechanism disclosed in the drawings. In said mechanism three superposed transverse locking bars 29, and, 3| are mounted to slide transversely of the plungers, these bars being mounted in end guides 32. The intermediate bar as can be extended through longitudinal slots 33 formed in all of the plungers while the upper and lower bars 29 and 3] can be located above and below the plungers.

Bar 29 has an obliquely disposed slot 34 in which is .l ounted a pin 35 extending from the plunger ihis bar is also provided in its front edge with notches 25 which normally aline with lugs 37 and 38 extending from the plungers 25 and 22'. Another lug 35 is extended from the plunger 25 and normally alines with one or a pair of notches 49 formed in the bar 38. The other one of these notches normally 'alines with lug 38 on plunger 21 while an obliquely "disposed slot ii is formed in barflil and receives a pin 42 carried by plunger 45.

The third bar 3i has notches 43 which nor-- mally register with the lugs 3! and 39. An obliquely disposed slot 44 is formed in this bar 3! and receives a pin extending from the plunger 2's.

Normally all of the bars-are located at their extreme right hand positions at hich time ,all of the notches in the several bar-s register with the respective lugs 3?, 38 and as, If a coin should 3 inserted, for example, into opening 3, it would thrust against plunger 2% and force it backwardly againstits spring 23. plunger registers with the notches 4G and 4-3 in bars 39 and 3i it will enter these notches and hold said bars against sliding movement. At the same time, however, pin 35, moving backwardly in the diagonal slot 34 will shift bar 29 to move notches 36 from behind the lugs 3'! and 38. Consequently plungers .25 and 2? will be prevented from being thrust inwardly and no coin can be inserted in either of the openings 4 and 5 until after the parts have been reset. .Should a coin be thrust initially against plunger 28 instead of plunger 25, the lug 3'. would enter notches .43 and 36 thereby locking the bars 29 and 31 against sliding movement while at the same time, pin

42 working in oblique slide 4|, will thrust bar '32! so as to move the notches 4% out of register with lugs 38 and 39. Consequently plungers 25 and 21 can not be thrust inwardly. A similar action takes place should plunger 21 be initially thrust inwardly. This action would result in shifting bar 3| so as to lock the plungers 25 and 25 against .As the lug 38 on said.

depression. By providing a mechanism whereby when one bafile plunger is depressed the other bafile plungers can not be depressed, it becomes possible to insert only one coin at a time, and consequently, there can be no confusion of signals.

Each chute 6 is provided with an ejecting slide 46 sliding downwardly thereinto from the upper end thereof and these slides are all joined by a head 41 which can be provided with a knob 48 or the like for receiving pressure from the hand 01' the customer. The several slides are constantly extended back of the respective openings 3, 4 and 5 and are formed with coin receiving pockets 49 which normally register with the openings 3, 4 and 5. The slides are also provided with longitudinal slots .50 through which the plungers 25, 23 and 2! are extended. Thus a coin can be inserted into any one of the pockets 49 so as to depress the adjacent plunger after which the slides 46 can be thrust downwardly while astride the several plungers 25, 26, and .21 so that a coin seated in any one of the pockets will be thrust downwardly .againstand past the arm 18 in the path thereof.

-While the slides 46 are in their normal or raised positions they can display through the openings 3, '4 and .5 suitable notices such as In service to indicate that the apparatus is properly operative. This notice can be printed or otherwise displayed on the back walls )of the pockets 49. .Should the apparatus be inoperative and the slides 48 fail to return to their normal or raised position, suitable notices such as Out of order would be displayed withinthe openings 3, 4 and 5, these notices being carried .by the slides above the pockets '48.

Slides 4.6 .are normally supported in elevated positions by any suitable means such as a spring 5|. A spring pressed bolt 52 constituting the ar mature :of a solenoid :53 is located where it will snap into a notch 54 in one of the slides 46 and look all of the slides in their lowered position until the solenoid is energized to retract the bolt whereupon the slides will return to their raised or In service positions.

The return chute 8 :is normally closed at its lower end by a hinged door 55 and this door, which can be provided with a knob .56 is normally locked by a spring, pressed .bolt 57 connected to the armature -58 of a solenoid 59, see Figure '7.

Arm 60 is extended inwardly from the door and is connected by ;a rod 6| to one arm of a bell crank 62. The other arm of the .bell crank is connect'edby :a rod 53 to counter 64. A spring can be connected to the rod 63 so as to thrust constantly thereagainst and automatically close the door 55 after it has been released while open.

Spaced contacts 60 and B I are provided on the bottom of the chute 8 and are insulated from each other. These contacts are so located that when a coin is resting against door 55, it will engage both of the contacts 60' and BI and make an electrical connection between them.

As shown in Figure 10 a switch 62 located at the central oiilce for actuation by the operator. This switch is electrically connected through a lead 63' with the solenoids 53, i5 and i6 and also with a battery 64 or other source of current. Contacts .65", 66 and 61 are located for engagement by the swltcln Contact 65' is electrically connected to solenoid l5 while contact 61 is electrically cormected to solenoid 1 6. Contact 56 extends to the solenoid 53. In addition to the circuits mentioned there is provided another circuit 68 which includes the contacts'ifi and Si, the

ill

solenoid 59 and a battery or other source of current indicated at 69.

In order to signal the Central operator it is necessary to insert a coin (usually a nickel) in the opening 3. This will result in actuating plunger 25 while the other plungers 26 and 21 will be locked. The customer then thrusts downwardly on knob 48 so that all of the slides 46 will move downwardly. The slide above the inserted coin will thrust said coin downwardly against the arm H3 in the path thereof so that its counter 22 will be operated and. signal 23 will be sounded. This inserted coin will become deposited on plate H. The connection with the operator at the Central oifice and the transmission of the signal will be by the usual means. The operator on receipt of the signal calls for the number desired. If this number is obtained the operator, through switch 62', closes the circuit to solenoid l5 which is thus energized and the coin on plate H is delivered into chute l and thence to receptacle 9.

When slides 46'were depressed the bolt 52 automatically locked them against return movement. After completion of the call by the customer the operator closes the circuit to solenoid 53 which thus retracts bolt 52 and allows the slides 46 to reset.

Should the operator be unable to make the connection for the customer, notice to that effect is given and instead of energizing solenoid IS the solenoid I6 is energized. This causes the plate H to deliver the coin into chute 8 instead of chute 1. Consequently the circuit containing the contacts 65' and 6 i will be closed by the coin and the solenoid 59 will be energized, and thus bolt 5'! will be retracted. As directed by the operator the customer will open the door 55. This will allow the coin to escape into the trough or pocket l9. The act of opening the door will place spring 65 under compression and operate the counter 64. As soon as the opened door is released spring 65 will shut it automatically whereupon the door will again be locked and the parts reset.

If the call requested by the caller necessitates the payment of more than one coin, the customer after depositing the initial amount and being connected with the operator is told, for example, to deposit a quarter. At the same time the operator closes the circuit to solenoid 53 so that the slides 46 are released. The quarter is then inserted by the customer in the opening 5, which is the only one capable of receiving it. The insertion of the coin in this opening results in the depression of plunger 21 while at the same time the other plungers 25 and 26 are locked against movement as heretofore explained. Following the insertion of the quarter the customer again depresses the slides and as the quarter is thrust downwardly past the arm l8 the counter 22 will be operated. The coin will then fall into chute land he directed into container 9, it being understood that only the chute 6 provided for the nickels opens into the chute 8. These slides are, of course, locked automatically when pushed downwardly and after completion of the call they are released by energizing solenoid 53.

As a result of the operations described where a call is put through, one counter will show that one nickel had been deposited in the apparatus while another counter will show that one quarter had been deposited. If, in additionto this call,

another call had been requested but the nickel returned, the counters would show that two nickels had been deposited, one quarter had been deposited, and one nickel had been returned. Thus the subscriber to the telephone would have accurate information as to the proper amount which should be in the coin box to his credit.

' It is to be understood that mechanisms other than those described might be used for accomplishing the objects set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telephone construction a coin-receiving chute, a return chute communicating therewith and having an outlet, a normally locked door normally closing the outlet, a register for the coinreceiving chute, means for forcing an inserted coin along the receiving chute, means projecting into said chute for actuation by a forced coin to operate the register, a register connected to and adapted to be operated by the movement of the door, and means controlled by the positioning of a coin in the return chute for unlocking the door.

2. In a telephone construction the combination with a coin-receiving chute, a coin-return chute communicating therewith and having an outlet, and a normally closed door for closing the outlet, of means for registering coins directed through the receiving chute, means controlled by a coin when directed into the return chute for unlocking the door, and means operated by the door when opened to remove the coin, for registering the removed coin.

3. In a telephone apparatus having a'coin refund chute, a counter for coins inserted into the apparatus, means operated by a coin when inserted for actuating the counter, a counter for refunded coins, operating means for the refund counter including a movable closure, remote controlled means for directing a counted inserted coin into the refund chute, and means controlled by the coin in the refund chute for releasing the closure to give access to the coin to be refunded and actuate the refund counter.

4. In a telephone apparatus having a coin receiving chute, a coin delivering chute and a refund chute, and means for directing a coin from the receiving chute into either the delivery or the refund chute, of means for determining the number of coins directed from the receiving chute into the delivery chute, said means including a counter and means operated by a coin directed into the receiving chute for actuating said counter, a second counter, means for retaining a coin in the refund chute, a lock for said means, means controlled by a coin in the refund chute for releasing the locked retaining means, and means actuated by the movement of the released retaining means for operating the second counter, the difference between the totals of the two counters being indicative of the total number of coins directed into the delivery chute.

WILLIAM THOMAS ANDERSON. 

